Objective:To identify the characteristics of the bone marrow immune microenvironment associated with long-term survival in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.Methods:In the follow-up cohort of patients with newly diagnosed MM and who received “novel agent induction therapy and subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation and immunomodulator maintenance therapy” in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, a cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2019 and May 2020. Using NanoString technology, the RNA expression of 770 bone marrow immune-related markers was compared between 16 patients who had progression-free survival ≥5 years and 5 patients with progressive disease. Among the 16 patients who achieved long-term survival, 9 achieved persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) negative while the other 7 had persistent positive MRD. The functional scores of each kind of immune cells were calculated based on the expression level of characteristic genes, so as to indirectly obtained the proportion of each immune cell subset. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The proportion of neutrophils was significantly higher in long-surviving MM patients than in patients with progressive disease [functional scores, 13.61 (13.33, 14.25) vs. 12.93 (12.58, 13.38); Z=2.31, P=0.021]. Among long-surviving patients, those who were MRD-positive had a significantly greater number of mast cells compared with those who were MRD-negative [functional scores, 7.09 (6.49, 8.57) vs. 6.03 (5.18, 6.69); H=2.18, P=0.029]. Compared with patients with progressive disease, four genes (CTSG, IFIT2, S100B, and CHIT1) were significantly downregulated and six (C4B, TNFRSF17, CD70, IRF4, C2, and GAGE1) were upregulated in long-surviving patients. Among long-surviving patients, only gene CMA1 was significantly upgraded, 10 genes (ISG15, OAS3, MX1, IFIT2, DDX58, SIGLEC1, CXCL10, IL1RN, SERPING and TNFSF10) were significantly downregulated in the MRD-positive group compared with that in the MRD-negative group, the first 5 of which are related to the interferon response pathway. Conclusions:The increased neutrophil and mast cell numbers may be related to long-term survival in MM. Interferon signaling activation may be a key bone marrow immune profiling feature for MRD-negative, long-surviving patients with MM.

Talaromycosis marneffei has been increasing in recent years. Our understanding of this disease has gradually deepened through extensive basic and clinical research, but there are still many limitations. In this article, by incorporating the latest research advancements, we discuss important issues in managing Talaromycosis marneffei trends, aiming to guide effective prevention and control of the disease, improving public health, and reducing the healthcare burden.

Objective:To examine the survival and influential factors of an integrated approach of novel agents, autologous hematopoietic stem cell (auto-HSCT) , and maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) patients from a single center over the past 15 years.Methods:In our center, 300 MM patients who received an integrated strategy of new agents, auto-HSCT, and maintenance therapy over 15 years were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed.Results:The complete remission rates (CR) and ≥very good partial remission rates (VGPR) following induction therapy, transplantation, and maintenance therapy were respectively 35.3% and 55.2% , 72.4% and 80.0% , 89.2% , and 93.4% . When compared to patients receiving double-drug induction, the ≥VGPR and ORR of patients receiving triple-drug induction were improved. No difference existed in CR, ≥VGPR, and ORR between the PAD (bortezomib + liposome doxorubicin+ dexamethasone) and RAD (lenalidomide + liposome doxorubicin + dexamethasone) regimens, but the benefits speed differed. The negative rate of flow minimal residual disease following induction, transplantation, and maintenance was 18.8% (54 cases) , 41.4% (109 cases) , and 58.7% (142 cases) , respectively. The median time to progress (TTP) was 78.7 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 109 months. The median TTP for RISS-Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients were 111.8 months, 77.4 months, and 30.6 months, and the median OS was 118.8 months, 91.4 months, and 48.5 months, respectively. At various points during treatment, the TTP and OS of patients obtaining CR and MRD negative were longer than those of patients who did not obtain CR and MRD negative. TTP was noticeably shorter in high-risk cytogenetic patients compared to standard-risk patients even when CR was acquired during induction. There was no difference in TTP between patients with high-risk cytogenetics and those with standard-risk cytogenetics if MRD negative was acquired during induction. According to a multivariate analysis, the R-ISS stage was a poor predictor of TTP and OS at various treatment intervals. Therapeutic effectiveness was a newly independent prognostic factor following treatment.Conclusion:A median survival of almost 10 years is possible for MM patients who receive an integrated strategy of induction regimens followed by auto-HSCT and maintenance therapy, which significantly improves prognosis. However, this approach did not significantly benefit high-risk cytogenetic MM patients.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between peritoneal thickness and baseline solute transport function in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and analyze the factors affecting the function of peritoneal transport.Methods:Non-diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Longyan City from January 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled in this study. The thickness of the peritoneal membrane was measured by color ultrasound instrument before the peritoneal catheterization. Standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed after one month of peritoneal dialysis. The ratio of corrected creatine in 4 h dialysate to 2 h serum creatine (D/Pcr) was used as a solute baseline transport index, and according to the D/Pcr evaluation results, the patients were divided into high/high average transfer (H) group (D/Pcr≥0.65) and low/low average transfer (L) group (D/Pcr<0.65). The clinical data, peritoneal thickness and peritoneal dialysis related indicators between the two groups of patients were compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the function of peritoneal transport.Results:The amount of peritoneal ultrafiltration in H group was significantly lower than that in L group, intraperitoneal creatinine clearance (Ccr) and peritoneal thickness were significantly higher than those in L group (both P<0.05). Pearson and Spearman correlation results showed that the thickness of peritoneal membrane positively correlated with D/Pcr ( r=0.673, P<0.05), peritoneal Ccr ( r=0.261, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with ultrafiltration of peritoneal dialysis ( r=-0.365, P<0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that the peritoneal thickness was positively correlated with the solute transport index D/Pcr ( r=0.539, P<0.05) and the peritoneal Ccr ( r=0.338, P<0.05). Binary logistic regression results showed that peritoneal thickening was a risk factor affecting peritoneal transport function ( OR=1.175, 95% CI 1.009-1.369, P<0.05). Conclusions:There is a positive correlation between the peritoneal membrane thickness and the baseline solute transport index in patients with non-diabetic peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal thickening is a risk factor affecting peritoneal transport function.

Objective: To study the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (ASCT) and maintenance therapy in Chinese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: 200 MM patients receiving integrated strategy of bortezomib--based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed from December 1. 2006 to April 30. 2018. Results: The complete remission rates (CR) and better than very good partial remission rates (VGPR) after induction therapy, transplantation and maintenance therapy were respectively 31% and 75.5%, 51.8% and 87.7%,73.6% and 93.4%. There was no difference between 4 cycles and more than 5 cycles induction chemotherapy. The negative rate of MRD detection by flow cytometry was 17.6% and 38.2% respectively after induction and 3 months after transplantation. The negative rate of MRD gradually increased during the maintenance therapy. The success rate of high dose CTX combined with G-CSF mobilization was 95.5% and transplantation related mortality (TRM) was zero. The median time to progress (TTP) was 75.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 99.5 months. TTP of patients obtaining CR and negative MRD after induction were longer that those of no CR and positive MRD. TTP and OS of patients receiving triple-drug induction and ASCT in early stage were longer than those of double-drug induction and ASCT in late stage. LDH≥240 U/L, high risk cytogenetics, ISS II+III stage and HBsAg positive were prognostic factors at diagnosis. However, only MRD and high risk cytogenetics were independent prognostic factors after transplantation and maintenance therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients of TTP ≥6 years were listed below: light-chain type M protein, ISS I stage, normal level of hemoglobin and platelet, normal LDH, HBsAg negative, chromosome 17p-negative, good response and sustained good response. Conclusions Integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy can significantly improve the short-term and long-term efficacy. The prognostic factors of TTP in different disease stages were different. Response to treatment, especially MRD, played a more important role in prognostic factors.

DNA copy number variation is an important pathogenic factor of human diseases and might be involved in the pathogenesis and pathological process of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Aims: To investigate the copy number variation of CNTNAP3 gene and its significance in Crohn''s disease (CD).Methods: A total of 101 active CD patients admitted from Jul.2009 to Dec.2010 at Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University were enrolled.Eighty healthy subjects were served as controls.Peripheral blood or intestinal mucosa samples of CD patients were collected, and the copy number variation of CNTNAP3 gene was screened and validated by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH, n=8) and real-time PCR (n=93);expression of CNTNAP3 encoding protein was determined by ELISA (n=55).Results: A large fragment copy number amplification was revealed by aCGH at chromosome 9p13 region (including CNTNAP3 gene) in untreated CD patients.Real-time PCR confirmed that the copy number of CNTNAP3 gene was amplified in peripheral blood of CD patients, especially steroid-naive patients as compared with the normal controls (208 616.4±126 984.7 and 233 453.3±113 520.8 vs.161 750.2 ±53 940.3, P<0.05 and P<0.01).In the clinical parameters analyzed in this study, only smoking was significantly correlated with CNTNAP3 copy number amplification (P<0.05).However, there was no significant difference in plasma CNTNAP3 level between CD patients with amplified copy number and normal controls (P>0.05).Furthermore, the plasma CNTNAP3 level in CD patients with amplified copy number was not correlated with the simplified endoscopic score for CD (P>0.05).Conclusions: Copy number amplification of CNTNAP3 gene might be involved in the pathogenesis of CD in Chinese population.Glucocorticoid treatment and smoking might affect the copy number variation of CNTNAP3 gene.Plasma CNTNAP3 level cannot discriminate CD patients from healthy subjects.Conclusions of this study needs to be further demonstrated and discussed.

Objective To explore the influence of acupuncture point massage combined with limb function exercise on ankle brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods According to scores by grace score scale, 180 CHD patients were divided into three groups: low risk group (n=58), moderate risk group (n=68) and high risk group (n=54). Within the three groups, the patients were divided into the experiment group and the control group by using the random digital table. The control group was treated with routine nursing intervention , while the experiment groups accepted acupuncture point massage and limb function exercise training on the basis of control groups. We collected the values of ABI and PWV at four points-in-time: before intervention, 7 days after intervention, 30 days after intervention and 90 days after intervention. Results Repeated measurement data analysis of the experiment group and control group suggested that:in the moderate and high risk groups, there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the data at the four time points. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in time and group interaction effect. The difference between the experiment group and control group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Repeated measurement data analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in ABI&PWV interaction effect at the four time points between the experiment group and control group. In the low-risk group,the differences in time points compared with the main effect were insignificant (all P>0.05). In comparison of main effect at all the four time points, there was significant different in the moderate and high risk group (P<0.05), And it suggested that time and group interaction, namely effect of time factor (1 d, 7 d, 30 d, 90 d), was not decided by the division of groups. In comparison of main effect, the difference was statistically significant (all P < 0.01) in the moderate and high-risk group, which indicated the main effect (intervention) playing main role. However, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) of ABI&PWV before and 90-days after intervention. Conclusion Acupuncture point massage combined with limb function exercise can effectively improve the peripheral artery blood supply in CHD patients, lower ABI and promote PWV.

Objective To explore the impact of intensive follow-up visit in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation taking Warfarin in process of anticoagulant therapy. Methods A total of 100 patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were randomly divided them into intensive follow-up group and regular follow-up group on average. We compared the treatment compliance, INR value, embolism and hemorrhage between two groups. Results The INR qualified rate was 86. 0% after 6 months taking medication in the intensive follow-up group and 72. 0% in the regular follow-up group (χ2 =4. 570,P<0. 05). The incidence rate of hemorrhage was 12% in the intensive follow-up group and 28% in the regular follow-up group (χ2 =4. 000,P<0. 05). Conclusions With the function of propaganda, education, supervision, promotion and attention on patients, follow-up visit makes patients taking Warfarin receive normative, effective anticoagulant treatment and improves the safety of medicine use, thus the effect of preventing stroke can be achieved.

Objective To investigate the effect of modified controllable lateral prone position in thoracoscope resection of esophageal carcinoma. Methods From December 2011 to December 2013, 200 cases of esophageal cancer patients treated by thoracoscope resection were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 100 cases each. Observation group adopted the modified controllable lateral prone position, and the control group was given the traditional lateral position. The different postures of the skin pressure situation, operation field exposure, anesthesia cost and doctors′ satisfaction and so on were compared between two groups. Results The incidence of skin complications, operation time, anesthesia cost in the observation group were 4. 0%, (78 ± 20) min and (1 812 ± 490) RMB, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (χ2/t=4. 348,-13. 929,-3. 683, respectively;P<0. 05). The doctor satisfaction of the observation group was 99% which was significantly higher than 93% of the control group (χ2 =4. 688, P<0. 05). Conclusions The modified controllable lateral prone position can fully expose the operation field during thoracoscope resection of esophageal carcinoma, reduce the operation time, make sure patients safety and comfort, reduce the skin complications, decrease the cost of anesthesia, so it is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

AIM:To detect the activation of macrophage autophagy caused by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) and the possible related signaling pathways .METHODS:The macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cultured in vitro was divided into 5 groups according to the culture environment , including normal culture group , starvation-activated sautophagy group , LPS group, LPS+PI3K inhibitor (hVps34) group and LPS+mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) group.Fluorescent expression vector pcDNA3.1-GFP-LC3 constructed in previous work was transfected into the macrophages .The fluorescence microscopy was used to detect the formation of autophagosome .The mRNA expression of autophagy-associated genes Atg5, Atg7, LC3-II and Bnip3 in the macrophages was detected by qRT-PCR.The protein levels of LC3-II, p-Akt and p-mTOR were deter-mined by Western blotting , so as to evaluate the molecular pathways of autophagy in LPS-activated macrophages .RE-SULTS:The macrophages stably expressing GFP-LC3 were successfully established , which were used to observe the auto-phagy under fluorescence microscope .Compared with normal culture group , the autophagy in starvation group , LPS +hVps34 group and LPS+rapamycin group was significantly increased .The mRNA expression levels of Atg5, LC3-II and Bnip3 were significantly increased in starvation group , LPS+hVps34 group and LPS +rapamycin group , while in LPS group, those decreased slightly .The protein level of p-Akt in starvation group , LPS group and LPS+rapamycin group was significantly increased , while p-mTOR in starvation group , LPS+hVps34 group and LPS+rapamycin group significantly declined .LC3-II expression level in starvation group , LPS+hVps34 group and LPS+rapamycin group was higher than that in control group and LPS group .CONCLUSION: LPS regulates macrophage autophagy , and its possible pathway is the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, but there are some other effective regulatory pathways .